Push button controlled sheet material feeding apparatus



Feb. 9, 1954 H. ROSENTHAL PUSH BUTTON CONTROLLED SHEET MATERIAL FEEDING APPARATUS Filed May 4, 1949 INVEN TOR. fizzy Fosezzfa H. ROSENTHAL 2,668,705

PUSH BUTTON CONTROLLED SHEET MATERIAL FEEDING APPARATUS Feb. 9, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 4, 1949 IN VEN TOR. A a/(y I Faseaifid BY v H. ROSENTHAL Feb. 9, 1954 PUSH BUTTON CONTROLLED SHEET MATERIAL FEEDING APPARATUS Filed May 4, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 v INVENTOR. Zia) 'fioaejzfmz H. ROSENTHAL Feb. 9, 1954 PUSH BUTTON CONTROLLED SHEET MATERIAL FEEDING APPARATUS Filed May 4, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 PUSH BUTTON CONTROLLED SHEET MATERIAL FEEDING APPARATUS Filed May 4, 1949 H. ROSENTHAL Feb. 9, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 llfl. MMER W Wm - INVENTOR. fifdf/ry fas'e zz'fia BY M NWN Feb. 9, 1954 H. ROSENTHAL 2,668,705

PUSH EUTTON CONTROLLED SHEET MATERIAL FEEDING APPARATUS,

Filed May 4, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 77/767? SOLENOID cou/vrE/e KAI/ i.

INVENTOR. flzrg Fosezzz j Q4 Patented Feb. 9, 1954 UNITED STATiEiS re PUSH BUTTON IlCONTROLLED SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS- This invention relates to means for feedin sheet material (such as paper) measured amounts, and. particularly to means for cutting lofi a desired length of the sheet material auto matically in response to .a manual selection.

Reference is made to the copending application of James M. Shaw andLesli LFaus, Serial No. 682,800, filed July 11, I946, .now Patent No. 2,629,440, issued February 24, v1953, and assigned to applicant.

Paper .used for Wrapping bundles of various .sizescustomarily is out or torn off from'a roll in various lengthsaccording to the individualbundle sizes. Where a great many of these bundles must b wrapped in .the course of a day, as would be the case ina large laundry, for example, a great deal of time maybe wasted in cutting off the various lengths of paper individu'allyhy hand. It is highly desirable that the operations of draw-- ing the paper from the roll ontoza wrapping table, measuring the amount of paper drawn, and cutting .off the requisite length of paper, he done automatically in response .to-a simplemanual operation such as pressing a button. .In this Way, the person who does the wrapping is required merely toselect the proper button and then wrap the bundle with the piece of paper which .has been-.cut oiffrom the "roll :by the .machine. This savesapproximately one-half .of the wrapping time.

In a machine such as that described above there must be included some form of a-timer to control the amount-of material thatis fed from the:roll-and.cut oii in each operation-of the machine. This timer .has a movable portion which moves concurrently With the travelof .the paper or othersheet material .thatis being red. when theselec'ted amountlof material has been ied,-.the timer stops thematerial feed and causes a severing operation to takeplace. In prior timers'used for this purpose it has'been'necessary'to perform aninitial setting operation upon the movablev part ofthe timer in accordance with the amount of material that is toibe .cut off. For example; one of several plungers on .a timer wheel might "he set "to operate a switch when the Wheel attains a certain'position, or the timer wheel'inight be moved into any of several predetermined positions relative to'a driving wheelthereby'to vary the'drive ratio in accordance with the desired selection. The present invention-approaches the timing problem in a different fashion whereby this initial setting movement is eliminated.

A'primary object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an improved machine of the aforesaid character having a timer "which does -not=re-- 2 quire an "initialsetting-movement, henc does not require 'a setting mechanism.

A'iurther object is to "provide a "simple, compact and dependable :timer of novel and 'econominal construction to "control "the feeding of sheet material in measured amounts.

A 'still further object is to facilitate'preadjustof the "timer whereby the various lengths "of "material'which can be fed bythe'machine'are determined independently of each "other.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a timer having a series of individually adjustable timing cams mounted on a common cam shaftzto Whicha timer Wheelalso is secured. Associated with each cam'is aniindividual switchelectrically .connected'throughanindividual circuit 'to one "of the push buttons controlled by the operator. When the operator presses alhutton, this establishes an operating circuit through ,a corresponding one of the cam-.icontrollefd'timer switches, and

sheet material "is fed by the machine until the corresponding .oam reaches a .position where it opens the aforesaid switch. The closing or the individual circuit by the push 'button takes the place of 'the mechanical setting operation that has been required heretofore.

Another feature is'the provision of atimer comprising the timer wheel and timer cams which .are bodily movable as a unit, in .the course of which movement the wheel is brought into and outoi operative engagementwith a driving roller. A solenoid performsthefuncti'on of moving the timer in this fashion.

Still 'another'featureis the provision of "a simple resetting means in the form of a "restoring spring :on the timer wheel for returning all of the timer cams to their homepositions when the Wheel'is disengaged from its driving roll-er.

The foregoing-and other'objects, features and advantages'of thelnvention will bebetter understood from a study of the following description taken'inconnection-With the accompanying drawings, wherein:

'Fig. l'is-a-1.iers1: ective view of a machine-"embodying the invention, together with an associated gaging apparatus;

Fig. 2 isasideelevation 0f the -machinewith certain parts *of the housing broken away;

Fig. '3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the timer;

Fig. -5 is a diagram showing the electrical "circuits of the machine; 'and Fig. 6 is a diagram "showing a modified arrangement (if-the circuits.

*In *the illustrated embodiment of the HINGE- tion, a timer wheel is supported on a pivoted frame for movement into and out of engagement with a driving friction roller which rotates in timed relation with the roller that feeds the paper. A solenoid is provided for rocking the timer frame. Mounted on the same shaft with the timer wheel is a series of individual timer cams, and associated with each cam is an individual timer switch adapted to be operated thereby. The switches and cams move bodily with the timer Wheel. As the wheel rotates, the switches are caused to operate in a predetermined sequence. For example, a plurality of switches may initially be in aclosed position and then be opened in sequence as their cams rotate. The push buttons controlled by the operator are respectively related to the cam-controlled switches through the medium of indi-. vidual control circuits. When a button is pressed, the paper starts to feed and the timer cams commence rotating. When the timer switch corresponding to the pressed button is operated by its cam, a control operation takes place, in the course of which the timer wheel is disengaged from its driving roller, the paper feed is suspended and a knife is actuated to shear the paper which has been fed from the roll. A restoring spring on the timer wheel returns all of the timer cams to their home positions when the timer wheel is disengaged from its driving roller.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the machine [2 is positioned near the end of a belt conveyor [3 on which bundles of laundry [4 or the like are placed -prior to being wrapped. The machine l2 has a flat wrapping table l6 which is substantially on the same level as the conveyer [3. A severing mechanism is concealed within a guard or cover l8 at the rear of the table I6, and paper is fed 'out through a slot in this guard onto the table It. The operator controls the amount of paper which is to be fed and cut off by means of push buttons 22 located near the front edge of the wrapping table [6. In order that the operator can gage accurately the amount of paper which is required, there is provided near the conveyer l3 a standard 24 on which are mounted various indices 26 in vertically spaced relation. The indices 26 and the buttons 22 may have various 'colors to aid the operator in selecting the proper button. The buttons 22, for example, are colored black, red, walnut and ivory, respectively. The 'indices 26 are colored in a corresponding man'- ner, and they are located at different heights on the standard 24.

The various bundles as I4 generally will have substantially uniform lengths and widths, but their thicknesses will vary. Thus, the bundle I4 may have a thickness such that the top of the bundle comes even with or just below the red index, which would be the second index from the bottom. This indicates to the operator that he should press the second, or red-colored, one of the buttons 22. The machine thereupon feeds the appropriate amount of paper onto the wrapping table I6 and cuts off this length of paper. The operator lifts the bundle of laundry it onto the severed piece of paper and wraps the bundle in this paper. A dispensing device 28 on the table I6 furnishes strips of glued paper for sealing the bundles.

The lower part of the machine I 2, below the Wrapping table I6, is enclosed by a housing 36. On the right-hand side of the machine, as viewed in Fig. 1, there is a removable panel 32 behind are disposed mostof theoperative mecha- 4 nisms of the machine. As shown best in Figs. 2 and 3, these mechanisms are supported by a vertical wall or frame plate 34. They include the timer unit 36 and'two electric motors 38 and 40. The motor drives a feed roller 42 which draws a web of paper 44 from a roll 46. The roll 46 rests loosely on a support provided by metal straps 48. Preferably a heavy rod 50, indicated in Fig. 2, is placed in the center of the roll 46 to weigh it down. The timer unit 33, in response to the selective actuation of the push buttons 22 (Fig. 1), regulates the amount of paper which is fed by the feed roller 42. The upper end of the web 44 advances beneath a knife 52 having a serrated cutting edge (as shown best in Fig. 3) and onto the wrapping table I6. At the appropriate time, the feeding of the paper web is arrested, and the motor 38 operates the knife 52 to sever the measured length of paper from the web 44.

A hold-down roller or series of rollers 54 presses the paper web 44 against the top of the feed roller 42. This roller 54 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 55 which is fixed at its ends to a pair of pivotally mounted arms 56. Cane-shaped rods 58 are rotatably supported in upright positions and are subject to spring tension which tends to urge these rods downwardly. The offset upper ends of the rods 58 are adapted to be received in suitable notches provided in the pivoted arms 56. When a new roll of paper is being inserted in the machine, the rods 58 are lifted and turned to disengage their upper ends from the arms 56 and thereby release the arms 56. The hold-down roller 54 then is raised so that the end of a paper web as 44 may be inserted between the rollers 42. and 54. The parts then are restored to their original positions, with the roller 54 being springurged into engagement with the feed roller 42.

The knife 52 is operated by a bell crank 60, Fig. 2, carrying a follower which cooperates with a cam 62 driven by the motor 38. Each time the cam 62 rotates, it rocks the bell crank 86 and causes the knife 52 to descend for severing a length of paper from the Web 44. The knife 52 is restored to its upper position by suitable springs as 64 acting upon an arm of the bell crank 60.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the timer unit 36 is mounted on the Wall 34 and is covered a by a guard or housing 10. The timer proper is carried by a pivoted frame 12, which supports a cam shaft 84, a timer wheel 14, a series of timer cams 15 and T8, and a corresponding series of timer switches and 82. The timer wheel 14 and the cams 76 and 78 are mounted on and secured to the cam shaft 84, which is journaled in the frame 12. The frame 12 is pivoted as indicated at 86, Fig. 4, and is connected by a spring 38 to the core of a solenoid 90, the coil of which is fixed in position.

When the solenoid is energized, it causes the timer frame 72 to be rocked on its pivot 85 for bringing the timer wheel 74 into engagement with a knurled driving roller 92, Figs. 2 and 3. The

' timer wheel is has a rubber tread on its periphery to afford a good frictional coupling with the roller 92. The roller 92 rotates with a pulley 98 that is connected by a belt 96 to a pulley 98 on the shaft of the feed roller 42.. The driving roller 92 therefore is rotated in timed relation with the feed roller 42, that is to say, in timed relation with the feeding of the paper web 44.

When the solenoid is deenergized, the wheel '14 is withdrawn from the roller 92 by gravity. A spiral spring I00, Fig. 4, restores the timer :55 wheel I'M ran-dream shaft as. to their :initialzpositions when this :disengagement is effective. A

I small angle piece or stop 2W2 secure'd tothe'wheel -I=4 strikes against a bumper I'M mounted on the "Frame 12 to :arrest the timer'wheel "I4 and cam s'ha'ft 84 111 their home positions.

Associated with thefitimer proper are certain be'describ'ed with reference to Fig. 5. The ma- 'chine'is readied for operation by closing an on-off swi'toh 530. The operator then presses one of the biittons 22 according to the amount of paper which h'e desires. Each of the buttons 22 controls a switch 132, and 'as :a button is pressed, it closes its switch I32. In the present embodiment of the invention these switches I 32 are assume'd to b'e of the typew hi'ch, once they are :cl'osed remain closed until they are mechanically .reset. The swit'ches I 32 -':'sele'c'tive1y establish circuits from one of the mainconductors I34 to the terminals I to 4, respectively. These circuits continue from the terminals I to 4 respectively throughthecam-controlled timer switches 89 to the winding of the relay H2. From this relay winding the circui t is completed through terminal 6 to the other-main-conductor I36. It will be-noted 'that the timer -switches8i3 normally are closedwhen theirtimer cams- 'IG-are in home position. Closure of a push button switch I32 (for example, the one operated by the second push -loiitton zz therefore closes a circuit through the corresponding terminal (No. 2 in this instance) and the corresponding timer switch- 80 for energizing' the relay -I I2. Relay H2 remains ener- 'gi'zeol :unti1 this circuit T is broken.

Relay I I2, when energized, closes its contacts -I I4 and "I-i-E and opens 1 its contacts H8 and l'20. The openingof contacts H8 and 129 is'without effect at the present time. 'Cl'osure'of contact I16 establishesaicircuit from the main: conductor 1 '34 throughterminal-5, conductor I 42, windingof the timer-solenoid 90, contact H6 and terminal 6 to the'main-conductor I315. The solenoidfill there'- upon is energized and itrocks the timer frame tobri'ngthe timer wheel '74 into engagement with its-driving roller 92. The'efiect of this will be described presently.

Closure of relay con-tact II4com'pletes a cir -cuit from'the main conductor 1 34 through terminal '5, contact II4, winding of relay I 22, terminal I0, conductor I 38 and'a limitswitch I40 to the other main conductor I36. The limit "switch I463normhlly is closed and is openedonly momentarily toward'the end-of a seve'ring operation. Switch I40- bein'g'cl'osed inthepresentinstance, the relay I 22 'therefore cner'gizes to close its contacts 124' "and I26. The "closure of relay contact I24 -is without effect at' the present time. The closure of relay contact I26 establishes a holding circuit for-the relay I2'2,'which holding circuit extends "from terminal 5' 'through condutc- "tors M2 and I44, contact I26, conductor I46,

winding of relay I22, terminal aim-conductor. .IJS'B limit swi-tch F40.

switches I32. in their open positions.

? closure :of the relay contact the, in adiiition to energizing the timer solenoid '90, :also establi'she's :a circuit through terminal- I and conductor 131 to themain motor ='4Il, which effects the paper fecd. A brake solenoid I39 is connected in parallel with the motor 4.0, so that the motor 4-0 and solenoid 139 are energized -concurre'ntly. solenoid 1 39 is arranged zto relea-se a brake from the motor shaft when it isenergized and apply (Elie this brake to the motor shaft when. the solenoid is deenergiz'ed. The-motor 40, when energized, drives the teed roller toadvance itheipaperweb i l'be'neath the knife 52,.Fig52.

Asthe motor '49 and solenoid 90 are energized in the manner described above, the driving .roller '92 commences rotating and the timer wheel JH dabroughtinto engagement therewith. The cams 1 6 and It thereupon commence rotating away closed. As the cams 1.6 rotate, the low portions of these cams move toward their respective switches 80. For the maximum length of :paper, a complete sequence of switch. operations will take place, and the four cams 16 will causeithe switches to open at difierentitimes. This sequence of operations is only partially executed when a sheet less than the maximum. zlengthiis to-be severed from the paper web.

It has been assumed, for example, that the second push button 221Was depressed. The operatingcircuit fortherel'ay I I 2 therefore-remains established only so long as the second cam switch 80 remains closed. When the. flat :spot; on the second cam 16 is presented to the cam follower on the switch 88, the .switch opens and breaks the circuit through the Winding of relay II2. Relay II2 thus is deenergized. Contact II 6 of this relay opens and interrupts the circuit through the timer solenoid 9.0 and :the. main motor 58, causing them to be deenergized.v The brake solenoid I 38 also-is deenergized.for quickly applying' the brake to the motor 40. 'As'the timer Wheel T4 becomes separated. from thefldriving. r011err92,

the restoring spring I09 starts to move: the wheel T13 and the Game 16 and 1.8 "back-toward their home positions.

When relay I I2 deenergizes, itopen zits' contact i I4, but this is without effect at presentinasmuch as the relay I22 is being held energized through the aforesaid holding circuit. The relay contact I20 closes and establishes' a circuit from the-conductor I35 through the limit switch I40, conductor 'I38,'termin'al It, the front'contact of the timer switch 82 .(now closed. inasmuch as :the

advanced one digit'and also operatesthersolenoi'd I59 totreset the closed oneof the'pushbuttcn All of the "switches I32 now are As the timer cam 18 reaches itshome position, the back contact of the switch 82'c1oses. This *establishes a circuit from terminal 5 through the conductors I42: and I44','contao't. I24 ofrelay I22, conductor I54," windin'gi'oirelay 1.08, contact M28 I40 in control.

7 of relay II2 (now closed), back contact of switch 82, terminal I0, and limit switch I40. Relay I08 energizes and closes its contact IIO. This closes a circuit from terminal 5 through contact IIO, terminal 8 and conductor I56 to the knife motor 30. Motor38 energizes and drives the knife for cutting off the portion of the paper Web which has advanced past the knife. The cam I60 is driven by the motor 38, and as this cam nears the end of its revolution, it opens the limit switch I40 momentarily. Opening of the switch I40 breaks the holding circuit for the relay I22, causing this relay to deenergize and open its contacts I24 and I26. The relay I08 thereupon is deenergized to open its contact IIO. As a result the knife motor 38 is deenergized and stops rotating. The momentum of the motor 38 is just sufiicient to carry the rise on the cam I60 past the limit switch I40, permitting this switch to close again in readiness for the next operation of the machine. All parts of the system now have been .restored to their initial condition.

There may be instances in which it is desired to operate the knife independently of the push buttons 22. For example, the machine may inadvertently come to rest with the limit switch I40 held in an open position. Under these circumstances the actuation of a push button 22 would not result in a paper severing operation. In view of this, there has been provided another pushbutton switch I62, Figs. 1 and 5, of the momentary contact type. This switch has two sets of contacts I64 and I66, both of which are closed when the button I62 is pressed. The contact I06, when closed, bridges the limit switch M0. Contact 64, when closed, establishes a circuit from .the main conductor I34 to terminal II, from which a conductor I leads to the conductor I 46, the circuit then being completed through the .winding of relay I22, terminal I0 and contact I36 .150 the main conductor I36. As relay I22 energizes, it closes its contact I24 which, in the manner hereinabove described, completes a circuit through the back contact of the timer switch 82, relay contact I I8 and winding of relay I 08. Relay -I08 energizes and causes the knife motor 38 to go through a cycle of operation. The push button I62. should be released the instant that the knife starts to descend, leaving the limit switch gized until the switch I4 3 opens and breaks the holding circuit for relay I22.

The illustrated machine has numerous advantages which are apparent from the foregoing description. The timer assembly is compact, rugged and accurate in its operation. The various timer cams 16 can be individually adjusted independently of each other to determine the various lengths of paper which will be fed when the push buttons 22 are actuated. For convenience, these cams 16 may be individually colored to correspond with the colors of the push buttons with which they are associated. They efiect a positive control over the operation of the machine through the medium of the timer switches 80. The mechanical operation is simplified because of the fact that the timer is not required to perform an initial setting movement in addition to its rotative movement. The mere .closure'of an electric circuit by pressing a. push button 22 is all that is necessary to start the timer operating and control the amount of paper which is fed. Since each of the cams 16 can be separately adjusted without affecting the other cams, the machine can be adapted for a variety Relays I08 and I22remain enerof uses in which paper sheets of many different lengths must be furnished automatically in response to manual selections.

Fig. 6 illustrates a modified circuit arrangement which difiers from Fig. 5 in that push button switches I10 of the momentary-contact type are used in place of the mechanically interlocked push button switches I32. Corresponding parts of the circuits shown in Figs. 5 and 6 bear like reference characters and perform substantially the same functions in both cases. In Fig. 6, holddown relays I12 are respectively associated with the push buttons I10. Each relay has a pair of normally open contacts H4 and I16, the functions of these relay contacts being explained more full hereinafter. The contact I14 of each relay I12 is part of an electrical holding circuit which is controlled by one of the timer switches 30. Whenever a push button I10 is actuated, the corresponding relay I12 is energized (under normal conditions of operation), and this relay locks itself up through its holding circuit, permitting the push button I10 to be released while the relay is held energized. The locked-up relay I12 is not released until the associated timer switch is opened by its cam 18.

All of the relays shown in Fig. 6 are low-voltage alternating-current relays. A transformer I18 is employed to step down the commercial line voltage to the required low value for operating these relays. Conductors I80 and I82 extend respectively from the alternating current line wires (not shown) to the terminals 5 and 6. The primary winding I84 of the transformer I18 is connected across these terminals. The secondary winding I88 of the transformer I18 furnishes the low voltage for energizing the relays.

The operation of the machine schematically illustrated in Fig. 6 will now be described. The operator selects and actuates one of the push buttons I10 according to the amount of paper which is desired. This closes a circuit from the transformer secondary I86 through a normally closed contact I88 of a relay I90 and through the actuated push button I10 to the corresponding relay I12. This relay I12, upon energizing, closes its contacts I14 and I16. Closure of the contact I16 establishes a holding; circuit for the relay I12, which holding circuit extends through the associated cam-controlled timer switch80. This action-takes place practically instantaneously, so that the push button I10 need be depressed only momentarily and then is immediately released. The push button switch opens when released, but the corresponding relay I 12 remains energized through the aforementioned holding circuit for that relay. In this embodiment of the invention no special reset mechanism is required for the push buttons I10.

When the contact I14included in any of the relays I12 closes, a circuit is established from the transformer secondary I through the winding ofga relay I92. Relay I92 energizes, causing its contacts I94and I96 to open and itscontact I98 .to close. The closure of relay contact I98 establishes acircuit which extends from the transformer secondary lfifi through the winding of a relay 200, thence through terminal I0, limit switch I40 (closed at this time) and terminal I3 back to the secondary I 86. Relay 200 energizes and causes its normally open contacts 202 and 204 to close. The closure of relay contact 202 establishes a holding circuit for the relay 200. r The closure of relay contact 204 is without efieet at the present time. Thus, it willv be seen that relays iQZ and 288 are energized as an in-- cident to the energization of any one of the relays I 12.

' When anyone of the relay contacts. I'M" closes as" described above, it also establishes acircuit from the transformer secondary I85 through the winding of another relay 296 having a normally open contact 298. This contact 298 closes in response to the energization of relay 2% and thereby closes a circuit from the line-voltage conductors I80 and I 82 through the timer solenoid- 98 and the main motor it of the machine.

As the motor 40' rotates, it. drives the paper feed in the manner described previously, and it also causes the driving roller 92, Fig. 6, to rotate. The timer solenoid 90', when energized, brings the timer wheel M into engagement with the driving roller 92, and the. timer cams 1:6 and it. thereupon commence rotating. The cams I6 cause theirswitches 39 to open in sequence as the. timer wheel it rotates. When the timer switch 89 corresponding to the energized relay I12 opens, the holding circuit for that relay is broken and the relay deenergizes, causing its contacts I14 and i116 to open. In consequence of this, the relays I92 and 266 are deenergized. The deenergization of relay 2% brings about the deenergization of the; solenoid 99 and the motor to, thereby intelrupting the paper feed and causing the timer wheel I4 to be disengaged from the driving roller 92; A brake mechanism I 39 may be associated with the motor 48, if desired.

As relay I92 is released, its contacts I94 and I 9B- close; At the instant when this occurs, the timer cam 18; is still maintaining itsfront contacts closed. This causes a circuit to be completed from the transformer secondary I86 through the relay contact F94 and tern'iinals SI and 2 to the counter I52. The counter li52'thereby is advanced one digit. When the timer cam assembly isrestored to its initial position by the restoring spring we on the timer wheel re, the front contacts of the timer switch 8.2 are opened, interrupting the circuit through the counter ['52.

When thetimer cam. assembly is fully restored, the back contacts of the; timer switch 8'2 close, causing a circuit to be. completed from the transformer secondary i136 through the relay contacts I96 and 28.4 to the winding of the. re-

lay I9il. Relay I90 thereupon energizes, causing its contact I88 to open and its contact: 5 89 to close. The opening of relay contact Iflil prevents any of the relays H2 from becoming energized while the relay I9 3 is energized. The closure of relay contact r89 initiates. a paper severing operation by extending a. circuit from the line conductors I89 and I82? through the knife motor 38. As the. motor 38 rotates, it drives thevlmiie mechanism for severing a sheet of paper from the rollin the manner described previously. The length of the paper sheet cut ofi' by the knife is, of course, determined by the selectiveactuation of a push button l'l-il. As the knife completes its severing operation, it is restored to itslupperposition. Near the end of this cycle, the cam I653 momentarily opens the limit switch I'Ml, thereby interrupting the holding circuit for the relay 20G. Relay 29D thereupon deenergizes, and in so doing, it causes the relay i fl l to become deenergized. Thus, all of the relays have now been released, and the machine is in readinose for another cycle of operations.

The momentary-contact switch H52 serves the same purpose in Fig. 6' as it didin Fig; 5-. That is, it' may 'beemployed to send the knife mecha them through acycle of operation independently of the push buttons I-Tll. This switch I62 is used in case the machine comes to rest with the limit switch I40 held in its open position. As the push button I62 is pressed, the associated contacts I66 bridge the limit switch M0, and the contacts I64 close a circuit to the relay 200. This results in the energization of relays 2st and mi), bringing about a new cycle of the knife mechanism.

While the invention has been disclosed with reference to several preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that the principles: of the invention apply equally well to other modifications coming within the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for feeding measured amounts of sheet material including in combination, controllable sheet material feeding means, a plurality of control members each of which is operable to initiate operation of said. feeding means and select a predetermined amount of sheet material to be fed" by said feeding means, a corresponding plurality of. control devices each of which in.-

cludes: portions movable with. respect to: each other in timed relation with the movement of the sheet material, one of said portions of each device being adjustable for determining the respective times at which each of said control devices is operated during the travel of the sheet material, and means controlled by said control members and by said control devices for interrupting the feed of sheet material by said feeding means in response to: the operation of a control device corresponding to an operated control member.

2'. Apparatus: for feeding measured amounts of sheet material including in combination, controllable sheet material feeding means, a plurality of individually operable control membersfor initiating operation of said feeding means and for selecting the amount of sheet material to be fed by said feeding means; a corresponding plurality of control. devices each including portions movable with respect to each other in timed relation with the movement of. the sheet material, one of said portions: of each devicehaving an adjustable initial position for: determining the respective times at which said control devices are operated: during the travel. of the sheet of material, means controlled by said. control. members and by said control devices for interrupting the feed of sheet material by said feeding means" in response tothe operation 'of a control device corresponding to an operated control member, and means for automatically restoring said portions of said. control devices to predetermined initial positions after each operationof said feeding means.

Apparatus for feeding measured amounts of sheet material including. in combination, controllable sheet material feeding means, and a control system for controlling said feeding means including a plurality of circuits, each of said circuits including first and second switches, said" first switches having push button operating members for controlling the same, and adjustable means for actuating said second switches, said adjustable means and said second switches being movable with respect to each other in timed relation with the movement of said sheet material so that said second switches are actuated in a particular sequence as said sheet material is fed, said control system causing operation of said feeding means in response to operation of any one of said first switches andcausing said: feeding means to stop when said second switch in the circuit with said one first switch is actuated.

4. Apparatus for feeding measured amounts of sheet material including in combination, controllable sheet material feeding means, a plu-' rality of control means each being individually operable for initiating operation of said feeding means and for selecting an amount of sheet material to be fed by said feeding means, a corresponding plurality of control devices individually associated with said control means, a plurality of timing members movable in timed relation with the movement of the sheet material and cooperating individually with-saidcontrol devices for operating the same in sequence, said timing members being individually adjustable to any position within a predetermined range for determining the respective times at which said control devices are operated during the travel of the sheet material, and stop means connected to said control means and to said control devices for interrupting the feed of sheet material by said feeding means in response to the operation of a control device corresponding to an operated control means.

5. Means for timing the operation of sheet material feeding apparatus including, a rotatable driving member for the feeding apparatus, a movably mounted frame, a shaft journaled in said frame, a driven member on said shaft frictionally engageable with and disengageable from said driving member, a plurality of cams mounted on said shaft, a plurality of switches respectively associated with said cams, said cams having portions thereon for actuating said switches and being individually adjustable on said shaft for actuating said switches respectively at predetermined times during the rotation of said shaft, actuating means for moving said frame to a position to provide frictional engagement between said driving and driven members so that said cams move with respect to said switches in accordance with the amount of sheet material that has been fed during said engagement, and selectively operable electrical means coupled to said switches and operating in response to the actuation of a selected switch by its associated cam to disable said actuating means, to thereby produce disengagement of said members when a selected amount of sheet material has been fed.

6. A machine for feeding various selected lengths of sheet material from a roll including in combination, sheet material feeding means, driving means for said feeding means, a series of individually operable contact devices, a timer mechanism including a series of cams and a series of switches respectively cooperating with said cams, electrically operable means controlled in part by said contact devices for initiating operation of said driving means and for establishing an operative connection between said feeding means and said timer mechanism when one of said contact devices is actuated, and a plurality of control circuits respectively extending through said contact devices and said switches to said electrically operable means and effective when the switch corresponding to the operated one of said contact devices is operated by its respective cam to disable said feeding means and to interrupt the operative connection between said timer mechanism and said feeding means. 7 7. A machine for feeding various selected lengths of sheet material from a roll including in combination, sheet material feeding means, driving means for said feeding means, a series of individually operable contact devices, a timer mechanism including a cam shaft and a series of cams individually mounted on said shaft, said timer mechanism also including a series of switches respectively cooperating with said cams, electrically operable means controlled in part by said contact devices for controlling the operation of said feeding means by said driving means and for establishing an operative connection between said feeding means and said cam shaft when any one of said contact devices is actuated, and a plurality of control circuits respectively extending through said contact devices and said switches to said electrically operable means and effective when the switch corresponding to the operated one of said contact devices is operated by its respective cam to disable said feeding means and to interrupt the operative connection between said timer mechanism and said feeding means, said timer mechanism operating to automatically restore said cams to a given initial position thereof after each feeding operation.

8. Apparatus for feeding sheet material on a wrapping table for wrapping articles therein including in combination, gauge means including a plurality of readily distinguishable indices thereon adapted to be positioned adjacent to articles to be wrapped to indicate the size thereof, means for holding a roll of sheet material, controllable feeding means for feeding sheet material from said roll, a plurality of control members individually corresponding in appearance to said indices and individually operable for initiating operation of said feeding means and for selecting predetermined lengths of sheet material required for wrapping the articles gauged, a corresponding plurality of control de-' vices including portions coupled to said feeding means and operating automatically in sequence as said predetermined lengths of sheet material are fed, and means controlled by said control members and said control devices for interrupting the feed of sheet material by said feeding means in response to the operation of a control device corresponding to an operated control member, said portions being adjusted to such positions that the length of sheet material fed in response to the operation of any control member is the length of sheet material required to wrap articles of a size which correspond to the index on said gauge means associated with said control member operated.

9. Apparatus for feeding measured amounts of sheet material on a wrapping surface for wrapping articles therein including in combination, a frame structure having a substantially horizontal wrapping surface, means supported on said frame structure for holding a roll of sheet material, controllable sheet material feeding means for feeding the sheet material from said roll onto said wrapping surface, a plurality of push button control means at said top surface each being individually operable for initiating operation of said feeding means and for selecting an amount of sheet material to be fed by said feeding means, a corresponding plurality of control devices individually associated with said control means, a plurality of timing members movable in timed relation with the movement of the sheet material and cooperating individuallywith said control devices for operating the same.-

13 in sequence, said timing members being individually adjustable to any position within a predetermined range for determining the respective times at which said control devices are operated during the travel of the sheet material, and stop means connected to said control means and to said control devices for interrupting the feed of sheet material by said feeding means in response to the operation of a control device corresponding to an operated control means.

HARRY ROSENTHAL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,117,260 Sevigne Nov. 17, 1914 1,304,977 Helsel May 27, 1919 1,763,509 Gates June 10, 1930 Number 14 Name Date Jolley July 5, 1932 Krueger May 29, 1934 Ellinger Sept. 18, 1934 Guett Oct. 23, 1934 Moloney June 20, 1936 Bliss Apr. 6, 1937 Littell Dec. 20, 1938 Mickelson et a1 Sept. 5, 1939 Strong Aug. 27, 1940 Newman Nov. 5, 1940 Stearns Dec. 2, 1941 Weigolt Aug. 4, 1942 Longfield Oct. 13, 1942 Tuska May 21, 1946 Beckman Oct. 1, 1946 Lewis Apr. 27, 1948 Gates et a1 Aug. 23, 1949 

